Dental school student scoops research award

on 19 February 2010

A student at the University of Manchester’s School of Dentistry has triumphed in the 2010 BDA/Dentsply Student Clinician Programme competition.

Lisa Durning wins an all-expenses paid trip to the Annual Session of the American Dental Association in Orlando, Florida in October as Dentsply’s guest of honour.

As part of the trip she will be invited to present the winning project – Analysis of a novel embryonic stem cell line exhibiting de novo promoter methylation of the metastasis suppressor E-cadherin.

The awards were judged by Professor Nairn Wilson of King’s College London Dental Institute, Professor Robert McConnell of University College Dental School and Hospital Cork, and Dr Susan Hooper of Bristol Dental School.

Ms Durning’s victory is the culmination of nationwide competition, which sees the winners of competitions at each of the UK and Irish dental schools pitched against each other in a national final to determine an overall winner. All entries must be previously unpublished or presented.

Accepting the award, Lisa said: ‘I am delighted to win this award. It has been fantastic to be involved in research as an undergraduate and I am looking forward to presenting again in Orlando.’

Second place was awarded to Mark Gidley of the University of Sheffield School of Dentistry for his presentation Identification and quantification of periodontal pathogens in diabetic patients. He received a cheque for £500.

A third prize, recognising professionalism and presenting skills, was awarded to Malveen Mann, a student at the University of Birmingham’s School of Dentistry.

Commending the competitors, Professor Wilson said: ‘This year’s competition once again highlighted the very high calibre of the undergraduates at UK and Irish dental schools. Congratulations go to all of the entrants, who excelled at their own institutions to earn the right to compete in the final, and particularly to the winner, Lisa Durning.

‘The winning presentation reported a sophisticated analysis of a novel stem cell line, with the results indicating potential to control metastatic spread of cancer cells – exciting cutting-edge research of exceptional quality for an undergraduate student.’